Mental Health and Wellbeing Support (Dental Team)
Simply talking to someone you trust about your feelings can reduce your stress levels and improve your mood. You may also want to ask for practical support, like help with finding treatment or getting to an appointment.
GPs are experienced in helping patients with stress, burnout and mental health problems. Consider speaking with your GP in the first instance if you are feeling overwhelmed.
In Scotland, an NHS Occupational Health and Guidance service is available for GDPs, members of the dental team and other practice staff. The service is provided through the Occupational Health Service of your local NHS Board. Occupational health staff are experienced in helping people with stress, burnout and mental health problems and will offer independent, confidential advice and access to local wellbeing services.
The Hub is a wellbeing service for all health and social services workers in Scotland. They provide information about self-care through their website and signpost more specific support by health board region.
National Wellbeing Helpline: 0800 111 4191 (24 hours a day, seven days a week)
This comprehensive guide has been designed to support the mental health and wellbeing of all members of the dental team. This is a UK wide resource which contains self-care techniques and strategies for managing your mental health, outlines a range of organisations which can support you, and highlights resources to help your friends and family.
Delivered by NHS Practitioner Health, the WSS is a primary care-led, multidisciplinary mental health service with expertise in confidentially treating regulated health and social services professionals.
Dental professionals may be concerned about accessing help for mental health or addictions problems for various reasons. WSS has been established so that you can get the help you need confidentially because of agreements that have been put in place with relevant regulators.
Accessing The Service: Regulated NHS & Care Staff in Scotland (practitionerhealth.nhs.uk)
Call 0300 0303 300 (Monday – Friday 8am-8pm, Sat 8-2pm)
A London-based charity but active in Scotland: run by dentists, for dentists, and will also cover the whole team. They provide a wide range of support for dentists experiencing mental health difficulties or facing problems in relation to alcohol or drugs.
https://www.dentistshealthsupporttrust.org/
Call 0207 224 4671 (7.30am-10.30pm, 365 days a year)
A telephone helpline service manned by dedicated dentist volunteers who have received training in listening to colleagues who are in a state of emotional distress. They allow people to talk through their issues in complete confidence and then offer signposting to further useful organisations if appropriate.
https://www.confidental-helpline.org/
Call 0333 9875158
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